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(N0 m ae'l. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I R. WAGNER. Machine for Closing the'Seams qf Cans.

No. 241,457. I Patented May 10,1881.

N. PETERS, Photo-Lithographer, Wzihingmn. D. C.

(No Model.)

. 2Sheets-Shegt 2 R. WAGNER. Machine for Closing the Seams of Cans.241,451.

Patented May I0, 1881.

N. PEIERS, Photo-Lilhagnphar, Washington. D. C.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD WAGNER, OF GHEMNITZ, GERMANY.

MACHINE FOR CLOSING THE SEAMS OF CANS.

SJ EECIFICATI ON forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,457, dated May10, 1881.

Application filed January 10, 1881. (No model.) Patented in EnglandMarch 9, 1880, in Germany June 26, 1879, in France January 28, 1880, inItaly March 31, 1880, and in Austria April 17, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD WAGNER, of Ghemnitz, in the Empire ofGermany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements mechanism ofa novel character, hereinafter particularlydescribed, for holding andadjusting said wheel or-roller, whereby provision is afforded forconveniently adjusting the wheel or roller to suit cans of differentdiameters, and for moving it to and from cans of uniform diameter tooperate upon them. I also employ, in connection with the above-namedrotary clamping devices or disks and adjustable wheel or roller, avertically-adjustable knifeedged disk adaptedto be adjusted upward andinward by suitable mechanism to turn the edge of the cover of thecanupward while the seam is pressed downward and inward by an inclinedsurface upon the horizontal adjustable wheel or roller. The head orcover of the can is bent so as to form an in verted-U-shaped flange orrim which receives the outwardlyflared end of the body, and the seamingor closing is done by successive applications of the wheel or rolleracting in conjunction with the knife-edged disk.

It also consists in certain novel features of construction andcombinations of parts, to be hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings represent only such parts of my machine as arenecessary to explain its construction and operation.

Figure 1 represents a partially sectional end view of my machine,showing the first operation of closing the can. Fig. 2 represents a sideelevation thereof. Fig. 3 represents a plan thereof. Figs. 4 and 5 aredetail views,

illustrating the position of the wheel or roller and knife-edged diskrelatively to the seam at successive operations in the closing of thecan; and Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views in which the knife-edged diskis not shown.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

the head or cover thereof, which, before being placed in'this machine,is furnished with an inverted-U shaped rim, which receives theoutwardly-flared lip a of the body of the can, as shown clearly inFig. 1. i

B B designate disks which are brought to bear, the one, B, upon thebottom, and the other, B, upon'the top of the can, to clamp the lattersecurely between them. The upper disk, B, is here shown suspended fromthe frame 0 of the machine, while the lower one, B, is shown as adaptedto be moved vertically by means of a hand-wheel, D, actuating ascrew-threaded spindle, D, which constitutes a step for the spindle b ofthe said disk, so that a can may be quickly secured and released. Rotarymotion maybe imparted to the disks B B, and through them to the can, byany suitable mechanism.

In the present instance this is effected by a crank, E, which transmitsits motion through bevel-gears E E.

F designates a seaming wheel or roller adapted to rotate freely upon avertical spindle, c. In the present example of my invention thesaidwheel or roller is supported in a holder or frame, F, which isprovided with journals (1 (1, supported in suitable hearings in a frame,G, hinged by a pintle or pin, G, to the main frame 0 of the machine. Ashere represented, the upward-projecting journal d of theframe F issupported in a hollow screw, H, having a thread ofquick pitch, andadapted to be turned by a handle,H,while thelowerjoi1rnal,d,is supportedby a setscrew, 6?, which may be raised or lowered to raise or lower thewheel or roller F relatively to the seam of the can, the screw H beingturned upward to permit the raising .said frame or holder, which may beeffected through a handle or arm, 0, will cause the wheel or roller toapproach or recede from the can which is to be operated upon.

A designates the body of the can, and A I designates a screw extendingfrom the free end of the frame G, and projecting between lugs f upon themain frame 0. The said screw is furnished with nuts 9 g, by which theframe may be drawn inward,so as to bring the wheel or roller F againstthe seam of the can. This construction provides for adjusting the wheelor roller into position to conveniently act upon cans of differentsizes, while the eccentricity of the journals of the wheel or rollerholder, or frame to the spindle of the wheel or roller, provides for aquick adjustment of the wheel or roller to act upon the cans of auniform size.

To the handle or came is connected a spring, h, for swinging or turningthe wheel or roller holder or frame F to remove the wheel or roller fromthe seam of a can; and i designates a chain or connection connected tothe arm or handle 6 and passing over a pulley,j, downward to atreadle orlever. (Not here shown.) By actuating the treadle or lever the wheel orroller is brought to bear upon the seam.

Any convenient motive power maybe employed for operating the machine torotate the can, or it maybe operated by hand.

For acting in conjunction with the wheel or disk F, I employ aknife-edged disk, 70, which is pivoted to any suitable support, 1, whichis provided with any means (not here shown) for raising and lowering thedisk, and at the same time move it slightly toward or away from the sideof the can-body. The operation of this disk will be clearly describedhereinafter.

In the operation of my machine the wheel or roller Fis first broughtinto the position shown in Fig. 1, and being pressed against therotating can is rotated by friction and turns the downwardly-projectingedge of the rim of the can-cover A inward under the flaring lip a of thecan-body. The wheel or roller is next adjusted to the position shown inFig. 4, and the knife-edged disk having been adjusted so as to bring itsedge under the seam, the wheel or roller is pressed inward, and by theinclined surface at of the said wheel or roller the seam is turned downto the position shown in Fig. 5, at an angle of forty-five degrees (moreor less) to the head of the can. The disk is beinglowered out of theway, the wheel or roller is adjusted so as to bring a groove, 11, in itsperiphery opposite the seam, as shown in Fig. 6,

and the lower edge of the seam is turned inward. The wheelorrollerbeingnextadjusted so as to bring a cylindrical portion of its periphery 0against the seam, as shown in Fig. 7, the seam is closed down tightlyagainst and parallel with the side of the can-body, and is completed,thus making a tight and smooth joint or seam without solder. To makethejoint perfectly air-tight I may interpose a thin film ofchemically-pure vegetable paper throughout the seam before closing.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. The combination ofthe holding and clamping disks B B, the wheel orroller F, the frame or holder F, provided with journals (1 d, eccentricto the axis of said wheel or roller, the hinged frame G, containingbearings for said journals, the screw I, and lugsff, forminga bearingfor said screw I, whereby provision is afforded for adjusting the wheelor roller to suit cans of different diameters, and for moving it to andfrom the can to operate upon'it, substantially as specified.

2. The combination ofthe holding andclamping disks B B, the wheel orroller F, the frame or holder F, provided with journals d d, the hollowscrew H, forming a bearin g for the journal d, and the set-screw (1whereby provision is afforded for adj ustingthe wheel orroller'vertically, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the can holding and clamping disks B B, the wheelor roller F at the side of said disks, adapted to be adjusted verticallyand moved horizontally toward and from the disks, and the knife-edgeddisk 'k arranged to be adjusted by mechanism vertically and toward andfrom a can, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4.. The combination of theholding and clam ping disks B B, the wheel orroller F, the frame F, carrying the same, andsupported uponjournalseccentric to the center of the wheel or roller, the sprin g h,connection i, and pulley j, all arranged substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

RICHARD WAGNER.

WVitnesses AUGUSTUS WEERTHE, GERHARD KOENIG.

